The Charlie Chan comic strip is the first comic strip to ever star a Chinese or Chinese American man as a serious hero.

Was his incarnation on the comics page different than the novels and movies that also featured him? In exploring the history of the comic strip the question arises: was the treatment of the Chinese detective progressive for its time, embarrassing in its execution, or possibly some combination of both? But first, a broader review of the comic strip, which began on October 24th, 1938.

Inspector Charlie Chan

Both the daily and Sunday versions of the Charlie Chan comic strip start off with the detective solving a mystery. The Sunday strip clearly sets Chan’s base of operations in Hawaii. The second installment–the first shows Chan sleeping in a hammock, a well deserved rest about to be disturbed–is reproduced below, from the wonderful Charlie Chan Family website, which explores Chan in all of his media manifestations. All of the Sundays reproduced below are from that website which I encourage interested readers to visit to get a full sense of the comic strip.

From the start of the comic strip it’s clear Charlie Chan is a person of substance. As early as October 31st, Chan talks to his son about war and murder, declaring he is growing weary of both. Lee comments that it sounds funny to hear him say so, given his familiarity with both.

It is then we get Chan’s first aphorism (in the comics strip anyway). “Is no doubt reason for present conclusion! Nothing wearies man like too much of same thing!”

In that moment we see all of Chan’s seeming contradictions. He displays a sort of broken English, leaving out “it” and “the’ with regularity. And he is prone to spouting fortune cookie wisdom. That said, Chan is intelligent and portrayed as legitimately wise.

And when his son observes that a threatening anonymous notes, “Holy spokes, Pop! This sounds creepy!” Chan is distressed by his son’s slang.

“Use to which you put English language would cause anguish to most illiterate Englishman!”

Chan proves just as adept at solving mysteries as he was in books and movies. But writer/artist Alfred Andriola soon finds the father-son dynamic limiting and the pair not well suited for the sort of adventuring he has in mind for his hero. “Number One Son” is soon sent off to study art, ably making room for Chan’s new assistant, Kirk Barrow, a more adventurous and physically fit associate. He is also white, an effort perhaps to insure white readers have a character with whom they can better identify.

Chan and Barrow’s home base is Honolulu, where Chan is employed in an official capacity as Inspector. Hawaii is also where his rarely seen wife and younger children reside. But Chan is called to adventures around the world, and his stories are increasing set in the continental United States.

Alfred Andriola’s Caniff Roots

Alfred Andriola was the writer, artist and creator of the Charlie Chan comic strip. Today Andriola is mostly vilified for his lack of recognition of the ghost artists who did most if not all of the work on Kerry Drake in the last few decades of its run. It is hard for modern readers to realize that Andriola’s first comic strip, Charlie Chan, was a masterful piece of work and appears to have been largely produced by him.

Thought ostensibly a detective strip, the atmosphere of Charlie Chan adventures owes more to Terry and the Pirates than it does Dick Tracy. A longtime assistant to Milton Caniff, Andriola finally struck out on his own with Charlie Chan. Out of two dozen artist samples that were submitted to the McNaught newspaper features syndicate, Andiola was selected to produce the comic strip beginning in October 1938.

Nowhere was the Caniff influence more apparent than in the Charlie Chan comic strip’s cast of compelling female characters. But first the strapping fellow most of them yearned for must take center stage.

Charlie Chan’s Resident Stud Muffin

That would be Kirk Barrow. In adventure narratives, a strong white male often accompanies a less virile main character, whether he be a youth or a member of an ethnic minority. Pat Ryan and Dan Flynn are the older mentors in the Terry and the Pirates and Dickie Dare comic strips respectively. Steve Roper’s presence in the Big Chief Wahoo comic strip is an example of an ethnic hero. That said, Barrow is a likable character, cocky but not obnoxiously so.

In another article on this website, I explored the question of whether the characters in a later Andriola comic strip, Kerry Drake, reflected a gay sensibility on the part of the author. While not as fully in evidence in the Charlie Chan comic strip, I believe that the fairly frequent gratuitous shirtless scenes seemed qualitatively different from those often found in other comic strips of the period. Two Sundays are included here to let the reader decide for themselves whether there is a basis for my speculation.

The Women of the Charlie Chan Comic Strip

Gina Lane is introduced fairly early on in the Sunday strip narrative, a plucky Hollywood script girl who Chan invites to join his investigative team. Gina promptly enters into a flirtatious relationhip with Kirk Barrow. Attractive threats to that looming romance appear in the form of both attractive men and women.

There were also a raft of reoccurring characters, much like Caniff utilized in Terry and the Pirates. Each represented a classic female archetype. There was tough career woman and journalist Denny Hogan, impulsive, but feisty ingénue Merry Lee, burlesque dancer with a heart of gold Daisy O’Daire, fallen socialite Poppy Kensington, sultry thief Dusty, and bad-to-the-bone Zara, tigress of the Gestapo. Details regarding each of these engaging women are provided in the character descriptions that follow this article.

Dixie Dugan’s Crossover

One last notable female character needs to be mentioned. Though something of a sidenote, in a two Sunday sequence in 1941, Chan invites Dixie Dugan—the star of another comic strip represented by the same features syndicate—for a visit. Lee Chan is immediately taken with Dixie and her equally attractive friend Mickey. He immediately impresses them by deciphering a mysterious message. It takes his father mere minutes to realize that Lee was the author of the code, all in a misguided effort to impress the girls. It was an entertaining interlude—the Sunday pages increasingly devoted to one or two Sunday mysteries rather than full fledged adventures.

Charlie Chan: Stereotype or Pioneer?

Even within the Chinese American community, there is disagreement on this question.

As often the case with such rhetorical questions, the answer is often both. On the stereotypical side of the ledger is his frequent spouting of fortune cooking like wisdom, though it must be said the comic strip is better in toning that down than were the movies. His English often has an awkward feel to it as well, though the character is clearly portrayed as intelligent.  

Not atypical for ethnic minority characters in comic strips of the thirties and forties, Charlie Chan is also denied romantic complications. Chan is married in all of his incarnations but she is barely ever shown or referenced in the comic strip. This followed the convention of the novels and movies. Chan has a wife and eleven children back in Hawaii. His wife remains unseen, and except for a brief appearance of his youngest son, so do all of his children save his eldest, Lee, better known as “Number One Son.” A typical teen, Lee spouts American slang with ease.  

All that said, I would humbly argue that what was groudbreaking in the character and on the comics page was more important.

The Charlie Chan cimic strip character displays a wider range of personal characterisitics than the typical ethnic character of the thirties and forties. Chan cares deeply about the welfare of his friends and supports their pursuing satisfying romantic relationships. As a family man, Chan’s relationship with Lee, his “number one son” had multiple levels—full of concern, lessons taught, and frustrations felt. He seeks to instruct his “number one son” on detective procedure and other matters but also displays irritation at his occasional antics. And Lee is allowed a romance of his own, an opportunity often denied characters of color.

Chan is also genuinely wise, however stereotypical his dispensing aphorisms might be. They reflect genuine insight into the human condition. And, of course, he is a master detective. As such, he represents a fully developed and nuanced character, despite some of those stereotypes.

While on the chubby side, Chan is also physically capable. He often uses jiu jitsu to disarm opponents. When trapped inside a well or rescuing Barrow from drowning, Chan also shows himself to be a strong swimmer from a youth spent on Hawaiian beaches.

Such physical competence is not often afforded ethnic minorities on the comics page.  Along with that physical presence, he was unafraid of physical danger. That sort of courage was typically not allowed ethnic minorities on the comics page.

Keye Luke, the actor who played Lee, Chan’s Number One Son in the movies was once asked if the character was an embarrassing stereotype. He replied, “Demeaning to the race? My God! You’ve got a Chinese hero!”

Ethnic Supporting Characters

One way to test the intentions of Andriola’s treatment of Charlie Chan is to look at his treatment of other ethnic minority characters. Chan’s son; Wan Ching, a Chinese patriot,  and ingénue Merry Lee are all Chinese and emerge as relatively well rounded character. The Latino pilot Condor also receives favorable treatment. Condor would have likely returned for further adventures if the strip had survived. The representations of Mike, a black miner, and Red Joe, an Indian henchman are more problematic.

There was also an embarrassing but telling comment by Kirk Barrow that reflected some of the racial attitudes common for the period. When rejecting the advances of a woman up to no good, Barrow declares he wouldn’t be interested in her even if she was “the last white woman alive.” Did Barrow (and Andriola, by extension) really need to make that particular distinction?

Charlie Chan’s Retirement

The Charlie Chan comic strip was regularly losing newspapers after a strong start. A few months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the McNaught Syndicate decided to pull the plug. It’s last appearance was on May 31, 1942. Some have speculated that the time wasn’t right for an Asian hero. Whether coincidence or not, the Charlie Chan films took a two year hiatus in 1942 as well. In 1944, the film series returned but the comic strip did not.

Andriola handled the news of the cancellation of the Charlie Chan comic strip by having the Chinese American detective announce his retirement. The final daily strip featured Chan surprised by a retirement party arranged by Kirk and Gina. All of the regulars of the last few years were present: Daisy, Denny, Poppy, Lane, Merry and of course his Number One Son. The mysterious thief Dusty also was there, apparently risking arrest by coming to say goodbye. It was a satisfying ending to a comic strip that clearly had many more satisfying stories to tell.

Charlie Chan Comic Strip Friends and Allies

Lee Chan. Aka, Number One Son. The handsome and slender Lee Chan calls his father “Pop.” Lee first leaves his father to study art. Later, reentering the narrative, he leaves again in October of 1941 to travel the country in an effort to raise funds to help occupied China. He returns in February 1942, declaring that he is in love with Merry Lee, unaware his father and Kirk already have shared an adventure with her. 10/25/38-1/39d, 11/38s, 8/25/40-10/26/41s, 2/1/42-5/31/42s, 5/30/42d.

Kirk Barrow. Handsome, blond-haired “capable assistant” to Chan in Honolulu and throughout his travels. Kirk attracts a fair number of women along the way, though his heart belongs to Gina Lane even if he occasionally plays the field. Among the women drawn to him include journalist Denny Hogan, burlesque dancer Daisy O’Daire and a sultry thief known only as Dusty. 11/27/38-5/30/42ds.

Gina Lane. A pretty brunette script girl who helps Chan and Barrow solve the murder of actress Claire Lamont. Impressed by her pluck and intelligence, Chan hires Gina as his second assistant. Gina and Kirk quickly become romantically involved though it is not until 1940 that their love for each is confirmed in the face of the dashing Condor’s romantic interest. Another of her admirers was Sparks Martin. 12/4/38- 5/30/42ds.

Wan Ching. Chinese patriot who has come to the Unite States to purchase plans for a new rifle and otherwise raise funds to help his homeland against the the unnamed Japanese invaders. He is kidnapped by the treacherous Soong who has betrayed his countrymen in service of the invader. It is up to Chan and company to rescue him 10/8/39-11/39/39s.

Laddie Carson. The 11-year old delinquent son of Steve Carson—a minion of the Hawk—Chan takes the youth under his wing when his father is murdered before he can implicate his boss and his fellow gang members. In the 8/14/40 daily strip, readers are asked to vote whether Laddie should stay with Charlie or be forced to go away to a school that promises him a brighter future. Readers choose school for Laddie and he exists the narrative. 4/10/40-8/22/40d.

Dixie Dugan (and Mickey). Old friends of Chan’s. Charlie and Lee go to visit the girls and Number One Son creates a bogus mystery which he “solves” to impress Dixie and Mickey. Charlie realizes his scheme and earns a rare fatherly rebuke. 2/9/41-2/16/41s.

Sparks Martin. Handsome radio operator with a trim mustache who meets Charlie, Kirk and Gina on the Caravel cruise ship. He ends up assisting them in dealing with the deadly Zara and gets shot for his trouble. Sparks is romantically interested in Gina, who initially expresses interest in him as well. But Sparks gives up his pursuit of Gina when he realizes she’s in love with Kirk. 8/24/40-3/21/41d.

Merry Lee. Pretty twenty-something daughter of a wealthy Chinese-American businessman. Merry is prone to running away, her exploits covered in the press. Journalist Denny Hogan describes her as a “romantic rascal.” Chan first encounters Merry as an unwitting stowaway on a ship headed for the dangerous island of Hispaniola  While Merry is impulsive, she is aslo courageous and assisted in her own rescue by smashing a vase over the head of one of the bad guys. In her second appearance in the narrative, Lee Chan becomes smitten by her. 8/23/41-11/29/41d, c2/8/42-4/26/42s, 5/30/42d.

Poppy Kensington. Englishwoman who, after leaving her husband Lane and son Bentley five years ago, gets in over her head with Nazi agent Baron Lear. When Lear beats her for having caused him a reversal of fortune, Poppy turns on him and helps Chan and Barrow. Encouraged by the two men, Poppy ultimately reconciles with her husband and son. 9/6/41-11/29/41d, 5/30/42d.

Lane Kensington. Poppy’s husband, the two are initially estranged. A representative of the British government, it is Kensington who enlists Chan and Barrow to retrieve “the King’s Head,” a hollow statue that contains jewels. 11/5/41-12/25/41d, 2/9/42d, 5/30/42d.

Daisy O’Daire. Attractive blonde burlesque performer and chorus line dancer. As Daisy puts it, “I’m the girl with a flair, I shed what I wear and —with a stare.” In her first encounter with Kirk Barrow and Chan she is fleeing the scene of a pawnbroker killed with her dagger. In her second appearance, she seeks the help of Chan and Barrow when her younger brother, working on the docks, uncovers an Axis scheme headed up by Mr. Shark. Daisy is sweet on Kirk, who she tells “You’ve got a kind face but a cynical nature. You’d be awful sweet is somebody could pull you together.”  10/26/41-11/30/41s, 4/7/42-5/30/42d.

Condor. Carlos Oliverio Nicolas Dominic Octabio Renaldo, aks Condor. Condor is the self-proclaimed best pilot in South America and is enlisted by Chan and Barrow in their pursuit of Dusty and escaped conman Guy London. Heroic and confident, Condor sports a thin trimmed mustache and promptly falls in love with Gina. Gina lets him down easy by openly confirming her love for Kirk Barrow. 12/26/41-4/6/42d, 5/30/42d.

Charlie Chan Comic Strip Adversaries

Baron Lear. Balding German agent, Lear seduces Poppy Kensington into working against her own government. Lear steals valuable British security documents. He is aided in his efforts by his muscle, Kruhl. 9/6/40-11/3/40.

Berzelius Keeno. In his initial appearance, Keeno appears to me a wealthy and cultured mastermind behind the kidnapping of Donna Grant, American heiress. The suavely handsome Keeno sports a pointed goatee and is served by a shirtless man of color named Molu. Once captured, he is impersonated by Kirk but breaks out of jail to reveal the deception to his gang. Keeno breaks out of jail a second time months later. This time Keeno appears somewhat demented and is described by Chan as a “mad genius.” He manages to trap Chan in a well and buries Kirk in a mound of vicious red ants. Kirk is only rescued when Gina agrees to marry him. Keeno attempts to humiliate Kirk by having him act as his shirtless servant. Chan, who escapes his death trap, discovers Keeno is manufacturing innovative munitions of his own invention, including new types of dynamite and grenades.2/26/39-5/21/39s, 11/19/39-1/14/40ds.

The Cat. Exceptional cat burglar who has successfully executed 38 home thefts. He is dashing with graying temples and a trim mustache. Chan dispatches him with jiu jitsu. 6/15/41-7/6/41s.

Craig and Dr. Kari. A beautiful Japanese agent with an unlikely moniker. She shares her Axis mission with an old Japanese man named Dr. Kari. 2/8/42-4/19/42s.

Danton. Murderous clown and magician at the Conway Carnival.  Not only did he kill the owner, but supplies his teen-aged son with marihuana to make him more pliable in his schems. 2/7/40-3/17/40ds.

Dusty. Beautiful blonde thief and pilot who aims big, breaking Guy London out of jail in her scheme to obtain “The King’s Head,” a 15^th century hollow statue of King Henry V’s head that contains a priceless treasure trove of jewels. She dressed entirely in black, and wears a hooded cloak to cover her head. Dusty escapes capture, though seemingly shares a mutual attraction with Kirk Barrow and some genuine concern for Chan, who has been injured. Inexpicably, Dusty shows up for Chan’s retirement celebration. 12/4/41-2/18/42d, 5/30/42d.

Guy London. Handsome con man and soon to be murderer who is broken out of jail to help the mysterious and sultry Dusty to steal the precious “King’s Head.” London is smitten with Dusty, who tells him to stop calling her “baby.” 11-18-47-1/26/42.

The Hawk. “Dictator of an empire of crime,” the Hawk earned his name form hi beak-like nose, dark eyebrows and penetrating eyes, all accentuated by his receding hairline. The Hawk is at the center of two schemes. One is the kidnapping of Shiela Goodman to hold influence over her wealthy father. The other scheme is to sabotage the efforts of June Marberry, the female owner of the Centropolis Dolphins, a big leagues baseball team, by insuring that their star picture Speedy Crane is prevented from playing. He is aided in his efforts by a wide array of associates, including Cal Slaker, a corrupt sports promoter; Steve Carson, the crooked father of 11-year old Laddie; a sleazy lawyer named Bliche, and various thugs nicknamed Toughie, Slick and Pistol. 3/22/40-8/10/40d, 3/24/40-4/28/40s.

Ludwig. Nazi master of disguise.

The Master. Bald and monocle wearing head of the American branch of Nazi spies. His key partners in the states are Everett Morgan and a European gestapo agent named Zara. Though ostensibly the leader of the group, as their mission suffers Zara becomes increasingly impartient with “the Master,” even threatening him at one point. Ultimately, when the Master is seriously injured, Zara leaves him for dead. 10/24/40-3/12/41.

Mr. Shark. Balding and overweight, Mr. Shark is head of an American spy ring. His strategy is to hijack American ships, repaint them and then sell them to the Japanese. His men killed Daisy O’Daire’s brother for snooping into his operation. 4/8/42-5/27/42d.

Zara. “Tigress of the gestapo,” this turbaned saboteur is as deadly as she’s is beautiful—an ice cold blonde who later dyes her hair black to disguise her identity. Zara is proud of her record of mayhem. “Madrid, Vienna, Warsaw, Paris, Amsterdam, even London. Every mission a success.” The agent is brought to America by the Master, a monocle wearing spy in charge of American operations. On the run, and only able to save one of her associates, Zara saves her lover, Everett Morgan, leaving the Master to die. Finally facing capture, she boldly declares “No one stops Zara! No one is daring enough to try!” She then shoots and kills her lover and then herself rather than face capture. 11/20/40-5/9/41d.

Charlie Chan Comic Strip Timeline

1938  Charlie Chan is joined on cases by Kirk Barrow and Gina Lane.

1939  Chan squares off twice against arch enemy Berzelius Keeno.

1940  Charlie confronts the deadly Hawk, Danton, and Zara, the tigress of the Gestapo.

1941  Lee Chanmeets Dixie Dugan. The Cat is subdued. Enter Daisy O’Daire and Dusty.

1942  Enter Craig, female spy.Daisy O’Daire returns. Ace pilot Condor’s heroic and Latin.

Mark Carlson-Ghost